M.A.I.L. (Maille Artisans International League) is an international community of artisans and volunteers dedicated to the advancement of the chainmaille artform. We aim to encourage the sharing and spreading of information, archiving as many techniques and weaves as possible.

Article Tags

Using this method I describe for making European 4 in 1, you will need about half pre-opened and half pre-closed rings. Have a lot of both handy.

I have found that when making something out of the European 4 in 1 weave, the best way is to first make a section of 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-etc. This will be the foundation piece. To make this, you start by adding 4 closed rings onto one open one. Then you connect one open ring to two of the closed rings on the 4 in 1 you just made and add two closed rings to it. Keep repeating that process until you have a piece as long as you want to make it.

Next make a really long piece of 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-etc. This will be the working piece. you will connect this piece onto the foundation starting at the beginning of the row above it using open rings. When you come to the end of the row, all you have to do is open one ring and start on the next row below the one you completed. When your working piece starts to get short, you simply add more rings onto it to make it longer. The advantage this has is that you don't have to keep track of how many rings you have added to the working piece, for example if you are adding a long chain of over 100 rings in length to a shirt or something. It is also convenient if you are making something big out of chainmail; you can work on it anywhere and you don't have to lug around your whole project.

Step 1. Connect four closed rings to one open ring.

Step 2. Connect one open ring to two closed rings and add two more closed rings.

Step 3. Close the open ring you just added.

Step 4. Continue steps 2 and 3 until you have a desired length of chain.

Step 5. Make another length of chain similar to the one you just made.

Step 6. Line up two chains side by side with the rings (in the rows next to each other) leaning in the same direction.

Step 7. Attach one open ring to two closed rings on one chain and two closed rings on the other chain as shown.

Step 8. Close the open ring you just added. Step 9. Attach one open ring to two closed rings on one chain and two closed rings on the other chain next to the ring added in step 7.

Step 10. Close the open ring you just added.

Step 11. Continue steps 9 and 10 until you have gotten to the end of the shorter chain.

Step 12.

Step 13. Open the one ring that holds the remainder of the longer chain onto the foundation.

Step 14.

Step 15. Continue steps 6 through 14.

Original URL: http://www.mailleartisans.org/articles/articledisplay.php?key=29

The Maille Artisans International League
(M.A.I.L.) and any affiliates thereof will not be held responsible for
any injuries or mishaps in the use or misuse of any information presented
at this website whether intentional or coincidental.

Maille construction is not intended for children
or intended to be taken lightly. Care must be taken at all times, as sharp
hand and power tools may be used, as well as other materials capable of
causing injuries or repetitive stress disorders. Take precautions and
have fun mailling responsibly.